The number of people the Four Major Powers sent into the Jiuyou Secret Realm was roughly the same.
Sending too many risked unforeseen accidents that could damage the sect's foundation.
Thousands of years ago, there had been an incident where an entire expedition was wiped out in the Jiuyou Secret Realm.
Not a single person who went in made it out.
But sending too few meant risking the treasures inside being snatched up by other powers.
After all, the treasures within were all incredibly valuable.
If you failed to obtain them while another power succeeded, they could potentially catch up to you.
Over time, everyone gradually reached a tacit understanding.
Every hundred years when the Jiuyou Secret Realm opened, they would send, at most, ten to twenty percent of their talented disciples.
This way, they could handle any situation that might arise.
The people from the Qingyun Sect soon departed.
Everyone was waiting for the Jiuyou Secret Realm to open.
Lin Feng was just about to slip away from Ye Qingxuan when she called out to him.
"Lin Feng, when we enter the Jiuyou Secret Realm, everyone will be scattered. We'll all appear in different locations. I'll leave a secret sign. When you see it, come find me as quickly as you can. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety. The Jiuyou Secret Realm is fraught with danger, so you must be extremely careful."
"Mm! Alright! Thank you, Junior Sister Qingxuan!"
Lin Feng responded calmly, but inwardly he was overjoyed. He had been planning to find a chance to leave on his own after entering the secret realm. Now, it seemed they would be separated right from the start.
As for finding Ye Qingxuan? That was never going to happen.
Just then, a massive flying ship sailed across the sky. Two large characters were written on its side—Wu Ji.
The Wu Ji Demon Sect, one of the Four Major Powers of Lizhou, had arrived.
Standing at the prow, facing the wind, was none other than the Great Elder of the Wu Ji Demon Sect—Qian Dao Xiong.
He was a tall old man with a graying beard and a face full of murderous intent.
The people below couldn't help but shrink back at the sight of him, a deep-seated fear rising from within.
This was an executioner whose hands were once stained with blood.
A single glance from him was enough to scare an ordinary person to death.
Gu Mingzhou and Wang Chuan were both startled to see Qian Dao Xiong.
That demon actually came?
Decades ago, Qian Dao Xiong had slaughtered a city of over a million people to cultivate his demonic art, shocking all of Lizhou.
For a time, the Wu Ji Demon Sect became the public enemy of the entire continent.
Whether it was small and medium-sized powers or unaffiliated cultivators, everyone condemned the Wu Ji Demon Sect.
Many Wu Ji Demon Sect members even died for no apparent reason while on missions outside the sect.
Although the Wu Ji Demon Sect was powerful, even they didn't dare make an enemy of all of Lizhou.
In the end, they had no choice but to have Qian Dao Xiong lay low, announcing that he had received the sect's most severe punishment and guaranteeing that such an incident would never happen again.
As time passed, the fervor surrounding the incident gradually faded, and Qian Dao Xiong had only recently reappeared in the public eye.
Not long ago, he had led dozens of Wu Ji Demon Sect experts to ambush Leiming Sword, Zhao Ziwen, and Chenyuan Sword, Zhang Zhe, on their way to the Luosha Gate.
He had forced the two to form the Yin-Yang Dual Sword Formation just to escape.
Gu Mingzhou and Wang Chuan never would have imagined that the Wu Ji Demon Sect would send Qian Dao Xiong.
It seemed this trip to the Jiuyou Secret Realm would not end so simply.
The Four Major Powers of Lizhou had all arrived, and the number of smaller powers and unaffiliated cultivators continued to grow, packing the Jiuyou Valley completely.
Even though everyone knew the Jiuyou Secret Realm was dangerous, with entire expeditions having been wiped out before, the opportunities within were too alluring.
In this era, everyone wanted to climb higher, even if it meant betting their own lives.
Two days later.
A tremendous roar echoed from within Jiuyou Valley.
"RUMBLE!!!"
Immediately after, a spiral of airflow appeared in the sky, spinning ceaselessly.
Everyone present knew the Jiuyou Secret Realm was about to open.
Who would seize this opportunity and soar to the heavens, and who would be buried in this foreign land, remained to be seen.
Time ticked by.
"CRACK!!!"
A bolt of lightning struck down from the very center of the swirling vortex above Jiuyou Valley.
Then, space rippled, and a massive portal appeared before everyone's eyes.
Qian Dao Xiong shot into the air, laughing loudly as he hovered above. "Hahaha... The Jiuyou Secret Realm is open! Members of the Wu Ji Demon Sect, listen to me! Once you're inside..."
He paused, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
"Those who follow me shall prosper, and those who oppose me shall perish!"
"Anyone who dares to stand against my Wu Ji Demon Sect is to be killed without mercy!"
Although the Jiuyou Secret Realm was an enclosed space where robbery and murder were commonplace, it still took immense courage to say such words in front of nearly every power in Lizhou.
Even the Seven Kill Sect, which had always been on good terms with the Wu Ji Demon Sect, frowned at this.
"We obey the Great Elder's command!" all the members of the Wu Ji Demon Sect replied in unison.
One by one, bloodthirsty smiles appeared on their faces.
Outside, they didn't dare go too far, but inside was a different story.
"Go! Opportunity awaits! Don't you dare disgrace the Wu Ji Demon Sect."
The members of the Wu Ji Demon Sect mobilized instantly, rushing madly toward the spatial portal.
The other three major powers were not to be outdone.
They all ordered their disciples to enter the Jiuyou Secret Realm.
Lin Feng blended into the crowd, deliberately keeping his distance from Ye Qingxuan, solely so he could act alone once inside.
Being with his sect members was too restrictive. Besides, their goals were opportunities and treasures, while he had only one objective: the Red Spider Lily.
After all the members of the Four Major Powers had entered, it was the turn of the small and medium-sized sects, followed by the unaffiliated cultivators.
Gu Mingzhou, one of the Shenxiao Sword Sect Twelve Elders, watched the entrance to the Jiuyou Secret Realm. His face was expressionless, but his heart was filled with worry.
Thousands of disciples had gone in this time; he didn't know how many would make it out alive.
The portal to the Jiuyou Secret Realm would close completely in two hours and would not reopen for three months.
During that time, no one could open it.
The Shenxiao Sword Sect left behind more than twenty elders. They would have to stand guard here for three months, waiting for their disciples to emerge.
"Alright! Everyone's in. Let's have a bet, same as always!"
The speaker was Liao Jun of the Seven Kill Sect.
He was another demon whose hands were stained with blood.
The Seven Kill Sect's methods were different from the Wu Ji Demon Sect's.
The Wu Ji Demon Sect was arrogant and domineering, always seeking to rule Lizhou by force and make everyone submit to their tyranny. The Seven Kill Sect, on the other hand, was low-key and skilled at concealing its true nature.
However, how good could a sect that achieved the Dao through slaughter truly be?
The bet Liao Jun mentioned was actually quite simple.
Each time the Jiuyou Secret Realm opened, the Four Major Powers would make a wager. Each would put up a treasure, and after three months, the power with the most surviving members would win the pot.
Winning or losing the treasure might not have been that important, but face was.
The winner would gain an edge over the other three powers and bring glory to their sect.
It was a way to add some excitement to the long wait.
Liao Jun had just finished speaking when a monstrous demonic claw shot toward the Shenxiao Sword Sect's encampment.
A flash of sword light appeared, colliding with the demonic claw.
"BOOM!!!"
The violent collision made the ground tremble and the mountains shake.
When the dust settled, Gu Mingzhou was seen holding his longsword, glaring furiously at Qian Dao Xiong.
"Qian Dao Xiong, what do you think you're doing?" Gu Mingzhou demanded angrily.
"Nothing much! I've been in seclusion for a long time and just wanted to stretch my limbs!" Qian Dao Xiong replied with a smile.
"If you're stretching your limbs, why attack my Shenxiao Sword Sect? It's clear you're targeting us!"
"So what if I am?" Qian Dao Xiong said with contempt.
"The Wu Ji Demon Sect instigated the Luosha Gate to move against our Shenxiao Sword Sect in the shadows. We haven't settled that score yet! Are you trying to start a war?"
"A war, then! As if my Wu Ji Demon Sect is afraid of the Shenxiao Sword Sect!"
"Fine! Since the Wu Ji Demon Sect wants a war, I'll inform the Headmaster immediately," Gu Mingzhou said, fuming.
"Be my guest! But before that, let me see if your Shenxiao Sword Sect has made any progress over the years!"
As Qian Dao Xiong finished speaking, he waved his hand. The world instantly changed color as the once-clear sky was gradually shrouded in darkness.
At the same time, countless terrifying sounds echoed between heaven and earth.
Gu Mingzhou's heart sank at the sight.
Wasn't this Qian Dao Xiong's signature technique, the Swallowing Heaven Demon Art?
It was with this very demonic art that he had slaughtered millions of lives in a single city all those years ago.
"Qian Dao Demon, are you planning to kill everyone here to cultivate your Swallowing Heaven Demon Art?" Gu Mingzhou shouted.
At that moment, fear was etched on everyone's face.
The infamy of Qian Dao Xiong and his Swallowing Heaven Demon Art was arguably greater than that of the Wu Ji Demon Sect's own master.
Wang Chuan of the Qingyun Sect stared grimly at Qian Dao Xiong, ready to join forces with Gu Mingzhou at a moment's notice.
Only the people from the Seven Kill Sect looked on as if enjoying a good show.
"I have no such intention! As long as your Shenxiao Sword Sect can break this demonic art of mine, we'll let today's matter rest!" Qian Dao Xiong said unhurriedly.
Besides the Four Major Powers, there were countless small and medium-sized powers present.
Even as the Great Elder of the Wu Ji Demon Sect, Qian Dao Xiong didn't dare make a move against so many people.
Decades ago, he had become the public enemy of Lizhou and was forced into seclusion.
He had no desire for a repeat performance.
"Fine! You said it yourself! Today, I will experience the power of the Swallowing Heaven Demon Art! Form the formation!"
Gu Mingzhou roared.
The elders of the Shenxiao Sword Sect moved swiftly, summoning their personal swords. A total of twenty-four longswords formed a sword formation and shot into the sky. Gu Mingzhou also sent his own sword into the formation.
The sword formation transformed into a colossal sword several hundred meters long and thrust toward the sky.
"Break!!!"
With a deafening crash, the sky was pierced.
A ray of sunlight shone down.
Then, the entire sky, like shattered glass, broke into countless fragments and vanished.
The dim sky became clear once more.
*Clap, clap, clap!*
Qian Dao Xiong clapped, his tone mocking. "Not bad, not bad! A fine sword formation indeed, to be able to break my Swallowing Heaven Demon Art at fifty percent of its power. The destructive force of Sword Cultivators is truly formidable. I, Qian Dao Xiong, am a man of my word. We'll leave it at that for today."
His words made the faces of Gu Mingzhou and the other Shenxiao Sword Sect elders turn exceptionally grim.
Explore the extended edition on p𝑎wre𝑑d.com
The combined power of more than twenty of them in a sword formation had barely managed to break his demonic art at half-strength. What if he had used his full power?
After decades of seclusion, this demon's power had grown even more terrifying.
Proofreader: Peter Pan